Tenun Pahang

Semalam, saya dan rombongan (mr aziran, erny afizah dan 2 wakil penting - Hannah dan Irrsyad) telah melawat perusahaan Tenun DiRaja Pahang.  Mula-mulanya kami ke Pusat Tenun DiRaja Pahang di Kg. Keladi tetapi tempat tersebut ditutup sempena Maulidul Rasul, agak kecewa tetapi saya tetiba ternampak perusahaan tenun yang diusahakan di rumah.  Kami singgah dan dipelawa naik oleh tuan rumah.  Wah, nampaknya tak payahlah bersusah-payah ke Pusat Tenun, di sini pun ada!

Ayunan Emas Enterprise

Serba Sedikit Tentang Proses Menenun

Tenun ialah proses mencantum atau menyilang benang-benang menjadi kain tenunan. Seni Tenunan Pahang berasal dari Bandar Diraja Pekan. Fabrik ini ditenun dengan menggunakan Kek Siam . Pengenalan kepada Fabrik ini berdasarkan pada corak berjalur dan kotak atau berpetak yang terhasil dengan mengunakan pemilihan susunan pada benang Pakan dan loseng yang diubah-ubah. 
Seni tenunan di Pahang ini dipercayai dibawa ke Pahang pada abad ke-16 masihi dari Riau atau Sulawesi oleh pembesar Bugis bernama Tuk Tuan (Keraing Aji) . Beliau disifatkan sebagai pelopor reka corak baru dalam pemakaian kain sarung dan kain samping. Tuk Tuan sering memakai Dagang Luar dan Dagang Dalam dari bahan tenunan sutera permai yang dibawa dari Sulawesi , Acheh dan Riau. Pengetahuan dalam bidang tenunan menyebabkan ramai wanita khasnya surirumah sekitar tempat tinggalnya mempelajari cara membuat kain tenun iaitu Kampung Mengkasar , Pekan. Kewujudan dan ketokohan Tuk Tuan telah dicatatkan oleh penulis Inggeris , Dr. W. Linehendan T.J. Nerbold. Seni Fabrik yang halus dan indah ini telah mendapat sokongan golongan istana terutama Yang Mulis Tengku Ampuan Mariam.
Kepermaian Sutera Tenun Pahang telah dijadi pelengkap busana juita anak-anak raja, golongan istana,orang bangsawan dan dijadikan cenderahati ke luar negara. Kini kegunaannya telah tersebar kepada golongan rakyat sebagai kain sampin, kain sarung serta dijahit untuk pakaian tradiosional. Harganya bergantung pada harga dan jenis benang yang digunakan.
Secara ringkasnya proses menenun songket adalah dengan menggunakan teknik menyungkit iaitu menggunakan lidi buluh atau bilah nibung melalui benang loseng (warp) di permukaan alat tenun yang dipanggil kek tenun. Proses menyungkit dilakukan setelah benang karat butang disediakan. Benang karat butang digunakan untuk membuat reka corak atau sulaman benang emas.

Mencelup benang

Benang perlu dibersihkan sebelum dicelup ke dalam pewarna. Setelah pewarnaan dibuat benang perlu di keringkan, sebelum kerja selanjutnya dilaksanakan.

Melerai benang

Pelenting yang diperbuat daripada buluh kecil digunakan untuk melilit benang. Proses ini dilakukan dengan bantuan alat darwin dan alat pemutar rahat.

Menganeng benang

Proses membuat benang loseng yang diregang di alat penenun bagi menentukan saiz panjang atau jumlah helai kain yang akan ditenun.

Menggulung

Benang-benang yang diregang di alat menganeng (ianian) digulung dengan sekeping papan loseng.

    

Menyapuk benang

Setelah benang loseng dimasukkan ke dalam gigi atau sikat jentera, kerja-kerja menyapuk dilakukan. Dua urat benang loseng dikaitkan melalui setiap celah gigi jentera.

Mengarak benang

Karak dibuat daripada benang asing yang digelung. Benang loseng berangka genap dan ganjil akan diangkat turun naik secara berselang seli sewaktu menenun.

Menyongket benang

Proses mereka corak di atas benang loseng dengan menggunakan alat yang di panggil lidi dengan menyongketkan benang loseng sebanyak tiga atau lima lembar dan kemudian diikat dan dikenali sebagai proses ikat butang.

Menenun

Alat torak yang diisi dengan benang pakan atau benang emas, dimasukkan ke kiri dan kanan di celah-celah benang loseng mengikut corak yang telah ditentukan hinggalah menjadi sekeping kain. Kain yang telah siap ini dipotong mengikut saiz.

Menenun adalah proses yang amat remeh dan memerlukan kesabaran yang tinggi.  Penenun juga mestilah sangat kreatif untuk menghasilkan kombinasi warna-warna yang menarik.  Umi, yang mewarisi bakat dan kepakaran menenun dari nenek moyangnya memberitahu, untuk menyiapkan sehelai kain tenun, beliau mengambil masa sekurang-kurangnya kurang 3 minggu!!  Setelah mendengar dan melihat sendiri bagaimana Umi menunjukkan cara-cara menenun, betapa gigihnya beliau meleraikan benang-benang yang kusut yang kadangkala putus dan menggunakan kek untuk menenun lembaran-lembaran sutera, saya merasakan harga yang ditawarkan adalah sangat berpatutan walaupun mungkin agak mahal berbanding dengan kain-kain biasa.  Dan sudah semestinya saya tidak pulang dengan tangan kosong :) Terimakasih kepada penaja En. Aziran!!

Dari Bera Turun Ke Pekan

Hilir Membawa Ikan Patin

Dari Sutera Menjadi Pakan

Ditenun Si Dara Menjadi Kain

Backlit Lighting....

Pekan, here we come again!  Yes, we are in Pekan, but this entry is not about promoting Pekan nor about this month's challenge.  Today we talk about natural lighting.   Aisyah voluntarily offer herself to be the model.  We tried a few theory based on my reading and the most challenging part was to use the light before sunset as our backlight.  
**Backlight is when in relation to the photographer, the light is behind the subject, whether directly or a bit to the side. While the sun is the source of light, we’re not necessarily shooting into it. The backlight can be provided by a bright sky, a reflective wall or a window. The idea of backlit images is nothing new; it’s just that there are various ways shooting them. The most common use of backlight is in silhouettes against the rising or setting sun or a bright sky just before or after this time. Shooting these sorts of images is pretty straight forward; we have to find a “clean” background that doesn’t “blend in” with the subject and we have to shoot from a low angle i.e. get on the ground, to separate the subject from the horizon.  Alternatively, the ground can be reflective, this will also prevent the subject from “blending in”. We can experiment a little by composing in a way where the sunlight is slightly off to the side and the sun itself is excluded from the frame. No sun means no extreme, bright light. The result is - less contrast between the subject and the background and more light and detail in the foreground.**(The above notes were extracted from ebook  "Making the Most Available Light and Minimal Equipment by Mitchell Kanash Kevish).  

Enjoy my work....

February Challenge - Food Photography

This is the most interesting challenge! in many ways...  Of course first in the list is, I can eat my subject!! Next is, there are many things I can choose to shoot, from the ingredients, methods, the presentation, the decorations, fruits, vegetables, cakes so on and so on......(I may need to extend the challenge until March :)

Last week, I have just grabbed my self a book from MPH on food photography, "Plate to Pixel" by Helene Dujardin, France born but moved to USA in late 90s.  She uses natural light most of the times and has discussed in great details about natural lighting in her book.  

To start the challenge, i choose a few main ingredients usually used in Malay cooking.

Audio check...

Last Thursday, Adham went through a minor surgery on his both ears.  He has been experiencing partial hearing loss for the past one months.  We went to see ENT Specialist, Dr. Razak of DEMC and Adham has been diagnosed with glued ear problem.  According to Dr. Razak, Adham's eardrum has stuck to the hardened fluid in his inner ear.  During the surgery, Dr put 2 small tubes through his eardrum to let the fluid drain out.  This will help the eardrums to return to its original condition, insyaallah... However the procedure has little effect on him :)

Tak boleh korek telinga, korek lubang hidung Hippo plak!!!

Art Project

I have been trying to spend time doing art and craft work with Hannah and also Aisyah (hope it's not too late for Aisyah), so today we start with HAND PAINTING....

"Colours of The Soul "

Chocolate Banana Square

Recipe shared by Adila, my colleague.  Thank you Dila...

Chocolate Banana Square

1/2 cup butter - 113g

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

11/2 cups mashed banana (3 medium bananas)

11/2 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup baking cocoa

1 cup choclate chip

Method:

1. In mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add egg, vanilla and banana, beating thoroughly.

2. In separate bowl combine flour, soda, baking powder and salt. Add to creamed mixture and mix well.

3. Divide batter in half. Add the cocoa to one portion of the batter. Spread that portion in the bottom of a greased 9x9 baking dish. Spoon remaining batter on top, swirling gently with butter knife if desired and sprinkle with choclate chips.

4. Bake at 170 for 30 minutes or until batter tests done with a toothpick or fork.

Happy Baking

Pekan - Destinasi Pelancongan Anda

Since we are going to Pekan almost every month for the next 4 years (insyaallah), I thought it is fun if we explore Pekan in detail and share it with everyone.  Where to stay (for us, of course at Cik Yong's home sweet home!), what is their special food, places to visit and etc..
For this entry, I will start with their famous murtabak.  For outsiders, they will always look for murtabak Mekasar near to Sekolah Menengah Sains Ahmad Shah.  But if you ask local, they will refer you to murtabak Seri Kasthuri, near to DRB complex.  If you are going to Pekan town, it is on your left after DRB, after the traffic light.  The shop is facing the housing area, you won't miss it but you may need to drive slowly to spot the place.
The murtabak comes in many sizes with different price.  If I am not mistaken there are 4 sizes, Murtabak Biasa,Murtabak Special, Murtabak Daging and Murtabak Daging Special (betul ke ni?), price I lupa!.  We ordered 3 Murtabak Special and 3 Murtabak Daging Special to bring back home.
I have not tried murtabak Mekasar hence not able to compare but what I can say is murtabak Sri Kasthuri is Awesome!!! and price is reasonable...
How many star?? ****
Next visit, I will try to look for murtabak Mekasar...watch out for my next update...

Not many photos taken because we were busy eating and talking (hmm..gossiping?? ha ha ha).  With me  were Kak Zaidah, Kak Zu, Anarti and of course my beloved hubby...

          


p/s, Dato' Seri Najib - can I get sort off " special travel allowance" on my effort to promote your hometown!!  Anyone knows Dato' Seri, please let him know :)